What did the Chinese media really think of Key?

John Key has been trying smooth talk the Chinese media during his recent visit - but did they take the bait? We cast our eye over the Chinese language media and see what they're saying about his visit.

Prime Minister John Key has made an impression in the Chinese Media. Pictured is a screenshot of the Beijing News website.

Prime Minister John Key's visit to China has been well covered by the New Zealand press, but his presence has also made a splash in the Chinese media, with news agencies labelling the visit "pioneering''.

Key's visit to China has made headlines on most mainstream Chinese media outlets over the past few days, featuring photos with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Key's counterpart Premier Li Keqiang.

The Chinese official mouthpiece People's Daily featured Key on its homepage with positive comments on the China-New Zealand partnership from president Xi Jinping.

In the article, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the co-operation between the countries "exemplary'' and "pioneering''.

"The Chinese side stands ready to make joint efforts with New Zealand to lead the bilateral comprehensive partnership to a new high on the basis of mutual respect and win-win reciprocity,'' Xi told Xinhua.

Xi has called for co-operation on farming, green energy, energy saving, emission reduction, high technology, culture, education and tourism.

Key was asked by the Beijing News if there was any pressure to change New Zealand immigration rules to prevent property prices in Auckland being pushed up by Chinese immigrants.

Key said that he believed rising property prices were not climbing due to speculative investment from China or any other countries.

"We don't think property prices were climbing up due to speculative investment from China or any other countries. We should have increased construction on more residential properties but that slowed down due to the economic crisis.''

"I've heard Australia did something to prevent housing prices from overheating while our solution is to increase construction,'' Key said. ``Parents of some Chinese students here brought properties and that's not unique in New Zealand, and it's not worrying for us.''

The meeting was the third over the past year between Xi and Key, the website says. Xi said it demonstrated the two sides' great attention to the bilateral relationship.

Most of the Chinese media coverage was focused on the agreement to increase trade ties and the historic currency deal allowing direct trading between the New Zealand dollar and the Chinese yuan as well as Key's call for further collaboration in the agricultural sector.

The Shanghai Daily, the city's only English language daily newspaper, has been reporting the currency deal.

"The new measure will encourage use of the yuan and the New Zealand dollar in bilateral trade and investment, and enhance financial cooperation between the two countries," the People's Bank of China said in a statement on Tuesday.